Meanwhile, the withdrawal of the visiting fellowship was welcomed by the Cambridge University Students' Union.

In a statement seen by the newspaper, the Union said: "We are relieved to hear that Jordan Peterson's request for a visiting fellowship to Cambridge's faculty of divinity has been rescinded following further review.

"It is a political act to associate the University with an academic's work through offers which legitimise figures such as Peterson.

Will be handing back my @Cambridge_Uni degree (double first, modern history) in protest of rescinding Jordan Peterson's fellowship. I had plenty of good memories while studying for my degree, in which I obtained a double first. But my commitment to free speech is much greater

"His work and views are not representative of the student body and as such we do not see his visit as a valuable contribution to the University, but one that works in opposition to the principles of the University."

In his response, Prof Peterson continued: "In the fall, therefore, I will produce the lectures I plan to produce on Exodus, regardless of whether they occur in the UK or in Canada or elsewhere, and they will attract whatever audience remains interested.

But why was such an offer offered in any case? For so many reason, this man is deeply problematic.

"But I think that it is deeply unfortunate that the authorities at the Divinity school in Cambridge decided that kowtowing to an ill-informed, ignorant and ideologically-addled mob trumped participating in an extensive online experiment in mass Christian and psychological education.

"Given the continued decline of church attendance, the rise in atheistic or agnostic sentiment, the increasing irrelevance of theological education and the collapse in interest in such matters among young people, wiser and more profound decisions might have been made."

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